Sheathed hair comb



gully E953 Q J, GARQFALO 2,559,8@7

SHEATHED HAIR COMB Filed Aug. 18, 1947 PIE] /5 n Humm u HmmmmnunlMnllumulnlr /2 .INI/ENTOR. man J. nfeofmo Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE harls :il Garofalo, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August i8, 1945, ASerial No. v7(`9,'19'3 comme. (o1. fige-*415) 1 This invention relates-to sheathed hair combs, that is to say, to hair comb and sheath or case combinations. y. combinations are usally L(if sufficiently s r r 1a l1 dimensions to A co'nven iently nt within a p oclet'oi clothing or within a hand bag, and are popularly known as fp ocket combs andmcases. Ifhey are widely used, being carriedhby both men and women for the purpose of combing the hair at oddmoments during the day.

disadvantageof such combinations is that the comb is likely to slip partially or enti-rely out of the sheath or case while being carried. `This is often overcome in sheaths or cases made of leather vor similar material by providing a closure ilap at the insert opening of the sheath or case. Yetleather and similar soft and yieldable'materials do not adequately protect the comb teeth ,from breakage even when fully sheathing the 601mb.-

It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid sheath or case which will prevent breakage of the comb teeth and which, in correla-` tion with the comb, is so constructed as to posie tively retain the comb at all times when not in use. y An object is to provide a comb and sheath combination as above, wherein theV sheath maybe `quick-ly and conveniently attached to the back of the comb, giving greater depth thereto for use-as a handle during a combing operation.

An object is to provide such Ya, combination wherein the teeth of the comb do not contact the sheath, thereby fully protecting the comb against contamination.

An object is to provide all the above in -fsuch manner as will permit low-'cost mass production.

In accomplishing these objects I form ithe Asheath or case from arigid material which khasa limited degree of resiliency in sheet `form. 4Ex- 'amples of such material are the thermoplastios and certain metals such as aluminum. By sproriding the back oi the comb intermediate v its depthwith laterally projecting and longitudinally eiitnding ribs ofoppositely tapering longitudinal wedge formation and by forming the sheath or ca'seof mating formation, bordering an open longitudinal receiving slot for the comb-back, the comb snaps into place in the sheath and is held against accidental displacement. Furthermore, the open receiving slot fr the comb-back, eX- tendi'ng as a slideway along the length-of one of the narrow sides of the sheath, permits inserjltio'n ofthe combeb'ack, as aslide, not only with 'the teeth'extending'inwardly f'the sheath, which llo 2 is 'tn'shath'ed 'and protected position of the comb; but also with the' teeth extending outwardly, which is the position ,wherein the sheath adds depth "to the comb-back and serves as a Handle ln-ring a combing operation.

The walls of the sheath may be and preferably are thick enough to be slotted longitudinally, fin communication Ywith the comb-'receiving recess, to 4{'Jrovi'de pockets for 4the :reception ol 'sanitizing or 'deollorzing agents, or if desired, auxiliaryilnplements such as nail lles.

Further objects and features of the invention willibe apparent from the following vdetailed de s cri-ption of the particular preferred embodiment illustrated'in the accompanying drawing.

the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the comb and sheath combination, showing the comb fully sheathed; Fig-.L2 is a top elevation; FigI 3 is a vertical section taken on theline 313mm. "2;

Fig. 4 is a similar section taken on the .line 4-11-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on -the line 515,` Fie. 3; Y

Fig, 6 is a side elevation of the combper se;

Fi-g. 7 is asimilar top plan view;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the comb fitted into thesheath so the latter adds depth to the comb back :and serves as a handle;

Fig.,9 is -a vertical section taken on the line .SfilyFig 8;

Fig. 10 is a section similar to that of Fig. 4 vil-Y lustra-tinga somewhat modied form; vand Fig. 11 is a similar section illustrating 'another modied form.

1 Referring now to the drawing; las illustrated in Figs. 1 through 9, the sheathed-comb, orcomb and case combination, of the invention comprises a'comb II) elongated in customary style and'em bodying a comb-back I I and teeth-I2, see particularly Figs. 6 and 7.

v Intermediate the depth of the comb-back I I and estending longitudinally at opposite-sidesthereof are laterally projecting ribs I3. The ribs I 3- are symmetrically disposed on opposite sides 'ofr the combi-back I'I as will be obvious from Figs. 3, 4,9, Alllard 11. The ribs I`3are alsosymmetricallydisposed with respect to a planeinto right anglesto theplane of the comb, whether the ribs are in the formillustrated in Figs.3, 4, and 9, or' the formfillustratedin'Fig. 11. VSuch ribs are'of oppositely tapering longitudinal wedge formation, as shown, extending, in the present instance, substantially the entire length of the comb and having their accesar respective wedge peaks or apices I 3a disposed substantially centrally of the comb. As illustrated, such ribs are rectangular in cross section, see Figs. 3 and 4. They may however be otherwise formed so as to have, for instance, the triangular cross section of Fig. 10 or a semi-circular cross section. Furthermore, such ribs I3 need not extend the entire length of the comb-back, but may be restricted to considerably lesser portions of the length for example one-half or one-quarter of the length. The longer the ribs are, however, the smoother will be the action upon inserting the comb in its case.

The entire comb-back II is formed as a slide for insertion in a corresponding slidewayiof the case or sheath. To this end, in the present embodiment, the portions IIa and IIb of the combback, above and below the ribs I3, respectively,

may be rectilinear and of uniform thickness so as to, in eiect, serve as guides. However, the ribs themselves may comprehend substantially the entire depth of the comb-back, as illustrated in Fig. 1l.

One end of the comb if! is provided with preferably a stubby handle member I4 having lateral flange portions Illa for a purpose hereinafter made clear.

The sheathed comb, or comb and case combination, comprises, in addition to the comb Ill, a sheath or case I which is formed and dimensioned to receive the comb I.

Such sheath or case I5 is deeply and narrowly recessed longitudinally, as indicated at I6, Fig. 9, and has one open end Il through which the comb is inserted. One of its narrow longitudinal sides is slotted along its length, see I8, providing a longitudinal open mouth for the comb-receiving recess I6. Such open mouth I8 is formed as a sldeway for the reception of the comb-back II, whether the teeth I2 of the comb be directed inwardly of the sheath or case, as in Figs. 3 and 4, or outwardly, as in Figs. 8 and 9. For this purpose the defining walls of open mouth I8 are recessed, as at I9, to mate with the ribs I3 of the comb-back.

The walls of the sheath or case are substantially rigid, for the purpose of protecting the combteeth I2 against breakage; but to permit insertion of the comb-back I I within its sldeway I8, such walls must possess a certain resiliency. Many materials will afford the desired resiliency, but for ease of fabrication it is preferred to mold the sheath or case I 5 from a thermoplastic material. The broad side walls |50. may be fairly thick and the interconnecting narrow or back wall I5b relatively thin to enhance the desired resilientv eiect. Furthermore, a slit 2B, Fig. 8, may be provided to permit freer response of the sheath or case to insertion of the comb. 'I'his may not be necessary in all instances, depending upon the material employed, the extent of throw caused by the ribs of the comb-back, and the location and length of the ribs.

During insertion of the comb in its sheath or case, the walls of the latter will flex outwardly to the extent required by the rib formation of the comb-back. Upon completion of the insertion, they will snap back to hug the comb-back and hold it against accidental displacement.

The lower part of the comb-receiving recess I6 is preferably congurated and dimensioned so that the walls of the sheath or case do not touchY the teeth of the comb, see Figs. 3 and 4, thereby further protecting the teeth from breakage and lessening the chances of contamination.

It will be noted that, when the comb is fully inserted in the sheath or case, the lateral flange portions Ida of the comb handle I overlap the defining edges of the open end I'I of the sheath or case, thereby closing that end to the entrance of dust and dirt. The longitudinal slot or mouth I8 of the sheath or case is closed by the combback. If a wall slit 2U is provided it need be only a cut, not suciently open to admit dust or dirt.

When it is desired to include auxiliary toilet implements, such as a nail le or sand board, with the comb and case combination, and/or to provide for sanitizing or otherwise treating the teeth of the comb while within the case, one or more though preferably a pair of elongated pockets 2l, Figs. 3 and 4, of suitable formation may be provided in the thick walls I5a of the sheath or case parallel with the comb-receiving, deep recess I6, a correspondingly elongated narrow slot 22 being provided in the partition wall between a pocket 2| and the deep recess for the purpose of intercommunication of the two. Such opening, incidentally, makes for a certain flexibility of the otherwise relatively thick and unyielding side wall in which the slot is formed, thereby permitting it to ex somewhat in itself when the comb is inserted within the sheath or case, without sacrificing the protective rigidity of such side wall.

The sanitizing material inserted within a pocket 2| may be an elongated absorbent pad impregnated with a volatile antiseptic or disinfectant, the sanitizing action taking place by way of the slot 22.

While the relative placement of ribs and mating groove recesses is preferably as illustrated, it may be reversed. That is to say, the rib formations may be provided by the sheath or case and the cooperating groove recesses by the comb-back.

Whereas this invention has been illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred forms thereof, it should be understood that the inventive concepts dened by the following claims may be embodied in other specic forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A comb and case combination wherein the case may contain and protect the comb or serve as a handle therefor, said combination comprising: an elongated comb having a back formed as a slide and provided with laterally projecting longitudinally extending ribs of oppositely tapering longitudinal web formation; and a correspondingly elongated case of slightly resilient material recessed longitudinally for receiving said comb, the recess in said case being open at one end to provide entry for said comb into said case and having an open mouth extending longitudinally of said case forming a sldeway in said case formed to mate with the back of said comb, whereby the walls of said case flex outwardly during insertion of said comb longitudinally therein but snap back to hold said comb irmly in place when inserted with its teeth extending within said case or outwardly thereof.

2. A comb and case combination wherein the case may contain and protect the comb or serve as a handle therefor, said combination comprising: a recessed elongated case open longitudinally and at one end; a sldeway formed'longitudinally of the mouth of the recess in said case; and an elongated comb having a back formed as a slide for reception by said sldeway, the back of said comb possessing longitudinally extending ribs of oppositely tapering longitudinal wedge formation and said slideway being formed to mate therewith.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 wherein the slide of the comb back is formed as a longitudinally extending rectangular guide strip along the free edge of said comb back, and said slideway is formed as a corresponding guide portion for receiving said guide strip.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the comb embodies a handle member at one end which protrudes from the open end of the case when the comb is completely inserted therein.

5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein the handle member is flanged laterally to overlap the defining edges of the open end of the case thereby to close the end of the case to the entrance of dust and dirt.

6. In combination, a comb and a case: said comb having longitudinal ribs symmetrically disposed along opposite sides of the back thereof and also symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal plane at right angles to the plane of said comb, the ribs on said comb being oppositely tapered in longitudinal wedge formation; and said case being deeply recessed to receive CHARLES J. GAROFALO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 932,027 Kennedy Aug. 24, 1909 1,510,420 Sherman Sept. 30, 1924 2,103,930 Behr Dec. 28, 1937 2,192,408 Lux Mar. 5, 1940 2,221,757 Cheney Nov. 19, 1940 2,357,539 Palat Sept. 5, 1944 2,491,753 Morin Dec. 20, 1949 

